Mountain Hardware's Gila is made for a day on the trail or a day in town.
Lighter than the North Face or the Kelty by at least a pound, the Gila is durable as well.
Its Cordura fabric is made to resist wear and tear and is twice as durable as standard nylon fabric.

The Gila is covered with extra pockets so you will always be able to find a safe place to put your possessions.

The Gila is great for day trips, but since it is 3 liters smaller than the North Face Big Shot and 5 liters smaller than the Kelty Goshawk, using it for a weekend pack will get cramped and uncomfortable unless you are staying at a KOA.

The Kelty Goshawk 2200 boasts the most volume and support of these 3 backpacks making it the daypack for the serious hiker.

Big enough to fit a small tent inside of it, the Goshawk is versatile enough to support even a weekend excursion.

Around town is a different story. Due to its larger size the Goshawk is more than is needed for a day in the city and is too large to
be used as a skiing backpack.

The name of the game for the North Face Backpack is durability. With its 840D nylon and Hypalon reinforcement, this backpack is made to take abuse whether its in town or the woods. You can drag it behind your car or throw it down the side of the mountain and still expect it to be in one piece. Although its shoulder pads are the thin side, the Big Shot is still comfortable even when it's full.